Toy and like device with rocking and rolling movement



Patented Feb. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES TOY AND LIKE DEVICE WITH BOOKING ANI) ROLLING MOVEMENT `Mark Finlay Heaney, Laurelton,

N. Y., assignor ofone-half to George A. Sarles, Mount Kisco,

Appiication Nmfember` 17, 1933, serial No. 698,535

v8 Claims. (Cl. 272-53) The present invention relates to a structure capable of operation about horizontal and vertical axes and operating by kinetic and latent energy to Obtain alternating movements about the vertical axis.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in a simple structure of duplex type, providing a toy which may be utilized by two children to attain rocking and rolling movements.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing shows such an illustrative device in perspective.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, indicating the asymmetrical nature of 'the-arrangement.

In the drawing, two rockers are provided which are held in spaced relationship, and at least one of the rockers is provided withan asymmetrically disposed anti-friction device such asV a roller. By asymmetrically disposed is meant a location of such device on one rocker at a point at which there is no corresponding device on the other rocker; that is, considering the two rockers as defining a cylindrical surface upon which the structure executes a movement about a horizontal axis, at least one rocker` is provided with an anti-friction device at a generatrix of this cylinder at which no roller is provided on the other rocker. Specifically, the rollers are mounted at opposite ends of the rockers, as will be seen from Figure 2.

In the drawing, the rockers are shown combined with fanciful bodies to provide mounts for the seats, etc. Therockers and bodies 10, 11 may be formed of ply wood or other suitable material by simple band saw and like production operations. Seats 12 are provided on each body, andare oppositely disposed. The rockers and bodies may themselves be denominated asymmetrical as one seat and the corresponding rider faces to the right, and the other seat and rider toward the left, viewed from either end, as will be clear from Figure 2, in this illustrative form of practicing the invention. Preferably the fanciful figures include raised front portions to which are attached handle bars 13 which may easily be grasped by the occupant of the corresponding seat.

The two rocker bodies are joined together by a brace which holds them in spaced parallel relationship in the illustrative form, being formed by a hoard 14 which passes at its ends through apertures in the rockers and is held in position by pins 15 located at both sides Of each rocker. This form of structure has been selected in the illus- 5 5 tration, as it permits the shipment of the device in knock-down condition, for an easy assembly by theV purchaser. `It Vwill be noted that this board is mounted symmetrically with respect to the verticalv plane through the point of contact of the device with the supporting surface when the device is at rest. The seats 12 are mounted so that the weight of the occupant will be at one or the other side of this plane, While the occupants feet may rest upon this board, as will be clear from Figure 1.

In the illustration, each of the rockers is provided with an asymmetrically disposed anti-friction device which is located near the front end of the corresponding rocker. Each device is shown to comprise arcentral shaft 16 having pairs of rollers or Wheels 17 held thereon by cotter pins 18.

The illustrated structure is placed upon a iloor, lawn or similar surface and the seats are occupied by two persons, such as the children illustratedV in Figure 1, who face in opposite directions, and by the usual body movements set the structure in rocking motion about a horizontal axis. In Figure 1, when the two rockershave moved until the points of contact are at the left-hand ends of the structure, the rollers 17 on the lefthand rocker 11 become operative, as the Weight of the structure is transferred thereto. It will be understood that this usually occurs while the momentum of thependulous rocking movement still continues. Hence, the left-hand rocker and associated structure in Figure 1 tends to move in an arc about a vertical axis established by the contact of the right-hand rocker 10 with the supporting surface. When the latent energy of the pendulous movement has been absorbed, the structure as a whole returns in its rocking movement about a horizontal axis. As the pendulous movement continues, the device goes to a position where the rollers 18 of the right-hand rocker receive the Weight of the device and a rolling movement occurs arcuately about a vertical axis established by the engagement of the left-hand rocker with the supporting surface. It will be noted that the two vertical axes are different and that these axes change with each rolling movement,

- and further that theV path of rolling movement of Aeach rocker is determined by the momentum of the corresponding end of the structure with its occupant, so that the time and distance of the arcuate movement may vary between successive rolling movements of each rocker and between the rockers themselves. The nal movement of the structure thus is highly arbitrary.

It will be understood, further, that the above reference to horizontal axis and vertical axis soy must not be regarded as referring only to xed axes, as the axes may move. The features of the invention include providing supporting means for rocking and rolling movements, so that the movements occur about horizontal and'vertical axes,

Y the movement about the vertical axis occurring,

and the means therefor being rendered operative, by predetermined rocking movements.

It is obvious that the device is not limited solely to the form of construction shovvn but that it may be employed in many Ways Within the scope of the appended claims. Y

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the class described including a pair of rockers, means for holding said rockers in spaced relationship, and an anti-friction device on at least one said rocker and upon which the corresponding rocker may move bodily about a vertical axis established through the other rocker, said anti-friction device beingmounted on said one rocker at a point spaced from the part of said one rocker which contacts the general support when the device is at rest.

2. A device of the class described including a pair of rockers upon which the device may make a rocking movement about a horizontal axis, and an anti-friction device on at least one said rocker upon which said device may make a movement about a vertical axis.

3. A device of the class described including a pair of rockers, means for holding the rockers in spaced parallel relationship, andra roller for each rocker mounted thereon ata point of the corresponding rocker spaced'from the part of said corresponding rocker which contacts the general support when the device is at rest said rollers being at opposite ends of the device.

4. A device of the class described including a pair of rockers, a foot board extending through the rockers and joined thereto, a seat on each rocker,

and a roller for each rocker mounted thereon at a pointof the corresponding rocker spaced from the part of the corresponding rocker which contacts the general support when the device is at rest said rollers being at opposite ends of the device.

5. A device of the class described including a pair of rockers, oppositely disposed vseats on the rockers, means for holding the rockers in spaced parallelism, and a roller for each rocker mounted thereon in front of the seat thereof.

6.v A device of the class described including a seat, first support means connected to the seat upon which the seat may rock about a horizontal axis, and second support means connected to the rst said support means and upon which the l seat may move about a vertical axis, said second support means being rendered operative by predetermined rocking movements of the seat upon the rst support means.

7. A deviceof. the class'described including a rocker having a seat thereon, a roller connected to said rocker at a point removed from the point of rest of said rocker so that the weight of the rocker and seat and occupant is transferredvto said roller after a vrocking movement of said rocker, and means connected to said rocker for establishing a vertical axis for the rolling movement of the rocker and seat and occupant when the Weight is carried by said roller.

8. A device of the class described including e. rocker having a seat thereon, a roller connected to said rocker at a point removed from the point of rest of said rocker so that the Weight ofthe rocker and seat and occupant is transferred to said roller after a rocking movement of the rocker, and means connectedto said rocker for holding the same in upright position and for establishing a vertical axis for the rolling movement of the rocker and seat and occupant when the Weight is carried by said roller.

MARK FINLAY HEANEY. 

